Every first Wednesday of the month, the IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) engages writers to share their fears, thoughts, progress, struggles, excitement, encouragement, or anything really, about their writing. A different question is posed each month as a writing prompt. Answering it is optional. For January, the question is: “What started you on your writing journey ?”
This amazing, supportive group of writers was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Today, the co-hosts are T. Powell Coltrin, Victoria Marie Lees, Stephen Tremp, and J.H. Moncrieff.
My answer to the question
My writing journey unassumingly started in fourth grade, when my classmates and I were tasked with writing a daily diary of about five lines (and drawing a picture underneath) throughout the school year. I picked up that habit again (minus the drawing) when I was fourteen and have been journaling every day since, for the last thirty years. The entries are super long when I travel and explore. Knowing that I’ve been a digital nomad since 2003, one can only imagine how much time I spent writing down my experiences. Hurray for digital diaries, as that meant the end of adding notebooks to the two full tubs stored at my cousin’s house in Belgium.
I’ve always enjoyed putting my thoughts on paper, so essay assignments at school were my favorite. All in Dutch. When Mark and I were on our second sailing journey, in the Eastern Caribbean, I started writing and selling articles in English, on top of blogs, personal notes, and a column. Eventually, I focused on writing a memoir about my thirties on the water. A previous attempt to write a book about our overland explorations in Central America failed, because we were already on to the next adventure. Writing successes and a nomadic lifestyle are tough to combine.
My book progress
In December, I managed to send off all the agent queries I had planned for 2019, despite some of them going out a bit later than hoped for. The result is more “standard” or “form” rejection emails; some arriving between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I’m building a nice collection of those! 125 agent submissions; 38 rejections. Unfortunately, most agencies remain silent when it comes to a reaction, even an acknowledgement.
Memoir Publishers Overview
I’ve also researched publishers that are open to memoir submissions and looked for new and recent comparable/compatible titles to update my non-fiction book proposal. All in all, not much memoir progress has been made in December, which means I could focus on other projects and enjoyed another fun week on the road to lead in the New Year.
What’s next?
Since we are living, traveling, and boondocking (free camping) in our camper van Zesty again, currently in Florida, little time remains to work on finding a publishing house for my book. That being said, I plan to rework the first three chapters of my memoir in January and submit my materials to the 27 niche publishers that made my list.
What are your (writing) goals for January? Or for the entire year of 2020?
Starting the new year on our friends Tom and Karmen’s sailing catamaran “Sauvage” (Photo courtesy of Karmen Chow)
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January 8, 2020 at 12:59
Maya looks right at home on that boat 🙂
January 8, 2020 at 13:07
Doesn’t she? We all had mixed feelings about getting a sailboat again, after our visit to this catamaran! I love your new avatar!!
January 8, 2020 at 13:13
Travel and writing–two of my favorite things!
January 8, 2020 at 20:49
Hi Sonia! We sure have that in common! Thanks for reading and commenting.
January 8, 2020 at 14:11
You’ve been busy! Always good to have a friend with a boat.
I bet it’s nice to be in short sleeves again!
January 8, 2020 at 20:52
Hi Janis!
Yes, we sure enjoy the warmer, sunnier weather, although the last week has been pretty cold at night and long-sleeve weather during the day. We are still in Northern Florida (and might never leave). But… it will be warmer and really pleasant the coming days!
Speaking about friends with boats… most of our best friends have been made cruising on our sailing catamaran Irie. The problem is that they’re never around where we currently travel! 🙂
January 8, 2020 at 14:13
Hi Liesbet! I’m not surprised you didn’t make too much progress with the memoir in the last month or so–so many distractions! And I’ll admit I admire your perseverance with all your submissions. Just remember that “you get to make it up” about publishing your book yourself 🙂 Wishing you success no matter how the road opens up! ~Kathy
January 8, 2020 at 20:54
Hi Kathy! I totally hear you about self-publishing. I’ll stick to this path for another couple of months and then dive into that research project! I need to get settled again for a while to make progress of any kind…
January 8, 2020 at 14:51
Liesbet, I had no idea that you began writing since 4th grde and have kept decades of diary entries, mostly digital. Wow!
My crystal ball says you will keep writing no matter what. The publishing method will evolve; you’ll have to trust the process.
I look forward to seeing you and Mark next week. 😀
January 8, 2020 at 21:00
Hi Marian! Your crystal ball is probably correct. I will keep writing – as I enjoy it and have been doing it forever – but that doesn’t mean anything will “happen” with it. 🙂
See you in one week!!
January 8, 2020 at 15:23
Hope you have better luck with the publishers. Don’t give up!
January 8, 2020 at 21:01
Thanks for the continued support and belief, Alex!
January 8, 2020 at 15:39
I wish I kept a diary in the past. My memory is so terrible – there is so many things I’ve forgotten. I wonder if writing your experiences down helps you remember them like taking photos does for me. Even if I did keep a diary I wonder if I would ever reread it.
I admire you dedication to writing. I write a lot in my head but mostly it doesn’t make it to paper.
For 2020 I hope to just keep up on the blog – which means slowing down, more days not going anywhere. For the last two days we have just been camped on the beach, listening to the roar of the surf – it’s pretty ok.
January 8, 2020 at 21:06
I have a sneaking suspicion that I started writing my diary because I already knew how terrible my memory would be. 🙂 Taking photos does the same thing for me as for you in regards to remembering and I have to believe that writing does the same, as this is how I studied in college, by making summaries and writing the important facts down before memorizing them. Even now, when I see something written (especially the spelling), it stays in my head longer. Try it!
I think I might reread my diaries when I’m in a nursing home at some point and reminisce on my life. Like you, I often write in my head and most of those (amazing) ideas and thoughts never see the light of day. Oh well… It’s because we think so/too much!!
You’re doing extremely well catching up with your blog posts right now. I hope to have some time soon to actually read them (and others) and leave comments! We’ve had an interesting year so far. Your current camping spot sounds awesome.
January 8, 2020 at 16:45
Good luck on the submissions. My fingers are crossed. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
January 8, 2020 at 21:07
Thank you, Anna! One of these days, I’ll get to it. 🙂
January 8, 2020 at 17:26
Maya needs a sailor’s hat! I’m happy to hear you’re getting back to the submissions, Liesbet. Keep plugging away and your memoir will land in the right hands. I have two books due this year…it will be a busy time. Happy New Year!
January 8, 2020 at 21:10
Hi Jill! Wow, two books in the making this year… That’s awesome! And, yes, that will keep you extremely busy. I’d say “good luck”, but I know it has more to do with determination, focus, and skill, all of which I know you possess. So, enjoy the process. And, a fantastic New Year to you as well, of course.
January 8, 2020 at 22:41
Liesbet, I admire your perseverance and tenacity, and ability to keep plugging away. Interesting that something you did in school in fourth grade has had such impact in your life. I can’t think of much that I did at school that was ability to sustain my interest, sadly.
I can definitely understand how a nomadic lifestyle and writing success are hard to come by. The time and effort required to be nomadic and sustain that is something one really only understands when one has lived it.
Nice to see your photos boondocking (great word) under the pine trees and love the last one of the three of you on the sailboat. Maya looks happier than ever and ohh so comfortable on the boat 🙂
Peta
January 9, 2020 at 11:32
Hi Peta!
I never realized that school might have influenced my writing desire, until I tried to answer this month’s IWSG blog hop question! But, I did know that I always liked writing (and reading) at home and at school. And, geography. I bet you might have had a few subjects (or teachers) you adored as well. 🙂
I’m so happy you understand what it’s like to combine work, passion, and a nomadic lifestyle and not succumb to exhaustion. You are right – one has to have lived it to fully understand.
So nice you picked up on Maya’s happiness on the sailboat. She really liked her visit and always wanted to get back on (and never back off) the boat. Interesting, right? She sure would be the perfect boat dog. We will see what happens…
January 9, 2020 at 10:42
Don’t give up just yet! Good Luck!
January 9, 2020 at 11:36
Thanks, Damyanti! You know what you’re talking about. You did it and succeeded! 🙂
January 10, 2020 at 00:06
Love the post. I’m a little late making the rounds. Happy IWSG!
January 10, 2020 at 11:32
Hi Juneta! Thanks for swinging by. You’re faster than me. 🙂 I’ll have to catch up this weekend.
January 10, 2020 at 12:17
If dogged determination is the key, then you’re going to get there, Liesbet. I don’t have that drive to have a published work, though I can’t imagine a life without writing in some form. I really enjoy telling stories in my Monday walks, but I do sometimes think I should venture into new territory. My current lifestyle doesn’t leave much spare time, but that’s never a good excuse. Do you still write a daily diary? 🙂 🙂
January 13, 2020 at 20:33
Determination I have, Jo. Or, you could call it stubbornness. Or, wanting and needing to finish what I start. 🙂 And yes, I still write my diary every day. Now if I would quit that, my days would last half an hour longer and I could actually read a book! 🙂 A busy life is a good life. For you AND me!
January 10, 2020 at 12:29
Congrats on your 2019. I am jealous of your journaling. I never got into the habit of doing it. Good luck in 2020
January 13, 2020 at 20:36
Thank you for the wishes, Allie! I think even if you journal once in a while – to immortalize important events or feelings for example – it provides benefits. Or to clear your head… I think this habit has really helped me to write cohesive and also to become a good proofreader. 🙂
January 10, 2020 at 19:12
Wow, you are in Florida, which means you survived the holidays! January is a great month to start the writing process for sure! Although I did not write as much as I hoped, I read a book on motivation which allowed me to tap in some thoughts into the notes section (of Kindle) while riding on the road trip. I translated those thoughts into words into my book and knocked out another 3000 words I hadn’t even planned on writing! I’ll be back to blogging next week and sharing some photos from the trip. Enjoy your time and keep going, Liesbet! Happy Friday!
January 13, 2020 at 20:41
Hello Terri! Yes, we survived the holidays, but usually they don’t mean much to us! We had Chinese take-out at a city park on Christmas Day and we did have fun over New Years with good friends. But, no family obligations or crazy food fests. 🙂
Wow, you cranked out another 3,000 words and some of that during your road trip. I’m impressed! You’re a much better passenger – when it comes to being productive, writing – than I am, either focused on the road, or reading blogs and commenting. I got so far behind with reading blogs the last two weeks that it has now taken we four full days to catch up on my inbox!!
January 10, 2020 at 23:08
I really admire your perseverance. It’s so hard when you’re moving around all the time – that in itself takes up so much energy. I know how hard I find it to write blogs and my journal, never mind a book! Good luck with it all. If ‘doorzettings vermogen’ counts for anything – you’ve got it nailed!
January 13, 2020 at 20:48
Wait a minute… where did you learn Dutch?? Doorzettingsvermogen is a pretty good term to describe part of my personality. Or, stubbornness as I mentioned to someone else earlier. 🙂 It’s so nice you “get” the dynamics of being on the road (or traveling) full time. It is tough to combine all these writing passions with life on the road and everything it entails. Plus, the need to make money as well. Thanks for understanding!
January 12, 2020 at 05:24
Good luck with those submissions, and happy travels! It all sounds wonderful.
January 13, 2020 at 20:50
Hi Shannon! I have to admit, our life is pretty wonderful. The only thing that would make it better is the ability to be more productive, or the ability to let go of everything that doesn’t involve our life on the road. 🙂
January 12, 2020 at 08:48
Well I’m envious of your life’s adventure. 🙂 I want to follow your adventures! Thanks for visiting my blog.
Teresa
January 13, 2020 at 20:51
Hello Teresa! Thanks for swinging by here as well and leaving a comment. I’d be happy to have you come along for the ride on Roaming About and on our adventures!
January 13, 2020 at 11:08
Lisebeth, what an amazing lifestyle and the pictures from your travels look amazing!😀 It is tough enough to submit to publishers when in just one place, I am in awe of your 100+ submissions. It is frustrating how many don’t even acknowledge them. Best of luck with your niche researched publishers this year – keeping my fingers crossed for you.
January 13, 2020 at 20:56
Thank you, Annika! For your visit, your comment, and your generous wishes.
Sometimes I wished I’d be settled in one place to give my book, submission process, and publishing path all the focus, time, and energy it needs. But on the other hand I’d have a hard time giving up my adventurous lifestyle. It’s a catch 22, really. When we were alternating road trips and house sitting, it was easier to “let go” while in travel mode, as I knew I’d be able to get back to my project at some point soon.
Now, I’m often in limbo about it and can’t dedicate big chunks of time to the book, as I need those chunks for other jobs and projects and can’t be in the same place too long… No complaints, though. I’ve always said that if we didn’t like our lifestyle, we can always change it. 🙂
January 13, 2020 at 20:10
I admire your tenacity Liesbet. I think Stephen King said he had a wall of rejections, so don’t give up hope, it only takes the right person with the right vision to say yes. 🙂
January 13, 2020 at 21:02
I know you are right, Debby, but my patience is starting to wear thing. This year, the memoir will get published, or at least be lined up to get published! There, hows that for tenacity. 🙂
January 14, 2020 at 10:32
That’s perfect! We must set the goal! We can always adjust our sails, but we must chart the course! 🙂 x
January 14, 2020 at 11:16
Love the sailing reference! 😉
January 13, 2020 at 20:46
Diary writing was what I used to ask my students to do when I was teaching. It’s such a wonderful way to write every single day. You seem so planned and meticulous. Wish you a great year with the memoirs.
January 14, 2020 at 08:20
Wow, it would be so nice to be in Florida right now! Good choice. You do have the most interesting life.
I think it’s great that you’ve submitted your book to so many places. Submitting is key. Imagine if we still had to do it all through snail mail?
My plans for 2020 are to finish the two books that should have been finished last year, and write two more–one has been sold to Flame Tree and has a deadline of September, and the other I promised to my agent. I really hope I do a lot better on the writing front this year than I did last year.
Happy New Year, dear friend!
January 14, 2020 at 11:13
Hello JH! I see you’re doing your rounds. 🙂
You are so right about the snail mail approach that is luckily not around anymore. Although, I have come across publishing houses that only want the manuscript or query or book proposal sent by traditional mail with a SASE envelop. I scratched those off my list. 🙂
You are full of energy for 2020, my friend. Awesome! And please, don’t be too hard on yourself. You’ve reached so much success and accomplished so many things in 2019, that something had to give. Working on four books in one year? Wowsers!!! Again, I’m so excited for you about the new book deal with Flaming Press!!! You go, girl!!
February 5, 2020 at 00:52
Thanks so much, Liesbet. Hopefully I’ll also be better at doing the rounds this year.
February 6, 2020 at 09:33
You’re doing pretty well so far! 🙂 It’s very time consuming, though…
January 14, 2020 at 15:51
I’m so impressed with the amount of agents you’ve written to. GOOD FOR YOU. All authors get rejections. The best authors get the most rejections, because they try harder. Keep it up! (And I’m envious of your warm spot there in FL – brrrrrr here in NE.
January 16, 2020 at 15:40
Hi Pam!
I’m doing really well gathering rejections. I just wish that some of them could provide constructive criticism, although I do understand that would take too much time. I have a feeling that the only way to hook an agent is when you’ve met her/him at a writers’ conference first. We will see how it goes with the publishers… Soon enough, I’ll go the self-publishing route. I received good tips from Marian (in person) the other day. 🙂
January 16, 2020 at 16:47
How neat that you talked with wonderful Marian. Yes, agents I guess are inundated with e-mails, but still, it doesn’t take that much time to respond with a few words of encouragement or advice. I hate to think that a writer has to spend money at a conference to be able to obtain an agent. But I’ll admit, I didn’t get any offers on my book(s) until I went to a “Meet the Agents” event (it was like speed dating but speed agenting). There, four agents asked to see my work!
January 16, 2020 at 16:57
Aha! Point proven. 🙂 I’ve even read statements from agents on their websites that they don’t take unsolicited queries anymore, but still take referrals and requests at conferences… The bummer is when I find this information somehow after I did all the work researching these people.
It was nice to finally meet Marian. I told her I’m looking forward to meeting you one day in Boston!! 🙂
January 16, 2020 at 17:01
Absolutely (about a meet up). So neat that you saw Marian in FL!!
And yes, the authors I know in this area who have (or are trying to acquire) agents all do so via conferences. That can get quite costly. Just doesn’t seem right, to me.
January 16, 2020 at 17:08
Exactly! Pricey. indeed. And, you know how I feel about that. 🙂
January 16, 2020 at 16:31
Liesbet, I am so impressed with your determination and organized approach to sending out and keeping track of your query letters. I can understand how hard it is to find the time to do that, given your nomadic lifestyle.
I too started journaling around age 13 or 14. However, I do not keep a daily journal; I just make an occasional entry. In my entries, I don’t attempt to describe all the things going on in my life, but rather I use them to work through new insights or big life changes. Long ago, I made the choice to not try to describe “everything” because of the time needed to do that, and I have always wanted to cram as much as possible I to my life.
Jude
January 16, 2020 at 16:33
That should be “into”
January 16, 2020 at 16:41
Jude, I love your approach to journaling! What a wise decision. I hope to follow suit one day.
You are so right about the time commitment (about half an hour a day for me) and the urge to not leave anything out can become “choking”. I think I have a problem with the “everything approach” (it’s COD-like, really) because I fear my memory is only going to deteriorate. Then, there is another weird sense in my body thinking that whatever I don’t record didn’t happen. I sometimes have that issue with photographs as well. Yeah… I wish I could prioritize a bit better with both!
I’m trying, though, as recording “everything” in words and on camera is truly exhausting! I actually tried the approach of not writing every day once and what happened was that every time I would put pen to paper (this was before my diary went digital), I ended up going back in time and writing for hours on tens of pages in the notebook about everything that happened and that I didn’t record. My current way is more organized. 🙂
January 18, 2020 at 13:34
Hooray for you – even though racking up rejections might not feel like an achievement, it is. Congratulations on your persistence, and best wishes on your reworking and submissions this year!
My goal is to finish Book 15 in my series – it’s been one of those books that feels like “one step forward, two steps back”. My completion date keeps receding into the future, but I hope to have it finished by March. *fingers crossed*
January 19, 2020 at 11:53
Thanks for your continued support and encouragement, Diane. I like collecting rejections. Better than collecting “stuff” – it doesn’t take up much space. Plus, I have thick skin and am not easily bruised. 🙂
I have the utmost belief and confidence in your book 15 this year. You can and you will do it! The reward will be even sweeter when it was a “pain” during the process. May the creative force be with you!!!
January 20, 2020 at 23:51
Hi Liesbet, I loved reading your response on “What started you on your writing journey?” I think many of us can relate to starting very young. Your enjoyment when writing is palpable, Liesbet. I think this is one of the reasons you have a huge following. We can feel it.
I appreciate you sharing your writing journey. Focusing on other projects seems to be a theme this past December and even now in January.
I do have some writing goals, Liesbet, although I feel I need to keep them silent until I am ready to give birth. A strange analogy, yet, I don’t want to jinx anything.
I am a huge fan of yours, Liesbet, and I know I will be reading your published book one day, soon.
January 22, 2020 at 11:44
Hi Erica!
I think that – subconsciously and maybe quite consciously at times – I’m looking for other projects to do. Excuses. Distractions. I call that prioritizing, but it’s probably a way of postponing work and completion of this book. It’s the mind playing tricks. I really want it to be done, but I also know that once it’s published, much more work and commitment is ahead of me. And, while I enjoy writing and editing, facing a huge amount of it somehow keeps putting me off. I know that if I’d just sit down and get to it, everything will be fine, but that hasn’t happened yet.
I hear you about jinxing things. I had the same feeling when blabbering about my agent submissions and such, but at the end of the day, I know that the chance of finding an agent is very slim, so not much to jinx there. 🙂
I wish you success with your writing endeavors and am looking forward to reading about your goals soon as well.
January 22, 2020 at 12:03
Liesbet, I find you are very self aware. The writing journey is unique for everyone. Yet, I can easily relate to you. In the meantime, you are embracing adventures and living life. We get the benefit of you sharing your amazing stories and photographs. Thank you for being you!
January 22, 2020 at 19:14
Oh Erica, that is such a sweet thing to say. You made me smile and then almost tear up. <3